LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers expect a healthier Shohei Ohtani at the top of their lineup for the postseason.
The two-way superstar played in the final five games of the regular season after coming off a two-week stint on the injured list with nagging right biceps and left knee issues.
With five days off leading up to Game 1 of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, Ohtani has time to rest and refine his hitting stroke.
He went 5 for 21 with an extra-base hit, eight strikeouts and a walk over the final five games.
“Everything is feeling great physically,” general manager Brandon Gomes said Tuesday. "The swings, once he came back, overall were in a good place, and using these five days to continue to get reps and feeling good into this series is really important. But feels like he’s in a great spot.”
Ohtani hit .275 with an .889 OPS and a team-high 30 home runs in the regular season despite injuries that curtailed his pitching and a slump at the plate that knocked him out of contention for a fifth MVP award.
During his offensive skid, Ohtani batted .198 with 34 strikeouts in 24 games before going on the IL.
"I feel confident that you’re going to see the best version of Shohei of the last two months,” manager Dave Roberts said. “I know that’s sort of a low bar given his injury, but I do think that he’s as healthy as he’s been in quite some time. Every day from the training staff, it keeps getting better. So yeah, number one, he’ll be a threat being in the lineup, but I do think that the performance piece will be what we’re hoping for.”
Roberts wants to see Ohtani take a handful of live at-bats and hit off the Trajekt machine this week.
“He did everything he could to manage it, all the while being somewhat compromised,” the manager said. "I think that he’s going to be as healthy and feel as good as he’s felt.”
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Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani walks to the dugout after striking out against the San Francisco Giants during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani runs to first base after hitting a single during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani hits a single against the San Francisco Giants during the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
NEW YORK (AP) — Jonquel Jones had 21 points and 13 rebounds and the No. 8 seed New York Liberty beat the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx 87-71 in Game 2 of their WNBA playoff series Tuesday night and advanced to the semifinal round.
Breanna Stewart added 21 points and Sabrina Ionescu had 18 to help the Liberty become the first No. 8 seed to eliminate a No. 1 seed in the league’s 30-year history. The WNBA has undergone a number of different playoff formats. And in many of the formats, it wasn't possible for those seeds to match up. However, in 2022 the league changed to the current format in which the top eight teams play in the quarterfinals.
Now, New York awaits the winner of the Atlanta-Washington series. The Dream are up 1-0 and play at Washington on Wednesday night. The semifinals begin Sunday.
A year after losing in the first round to Phoenix after going up 1-0 in that series, New York was determined not to have that happen again.
The Liberty were up five points after one quarter and led 40-35 with 2:39 left in the half. New York scored nine of the final 11 points in the second quarter to go up 49-37 at the break.
New York was up 52-39 with 6:26 left in the third when Stewart drove to the basket and was hit in the face by Miles as she tried to block the shot. Stewart was down for a minute as the officials reviewed the play and upgraded the play to a Flagrant-1 foul.
As Stewart walked off the court, she raised her hands to the sellout crowd of 17,593, who serenaded her with M-V-P! chants. Stewart hit both free throws.
Minnesota couldn't get closer than seven points the rest of the way.
The Lynx's season ended in disappointment again. The Lynx had the best regular-season record, but just couldn't put it together against New York. On Monday, Cheryl Reeve won the league's Coach of the Year and Olivia Miles was a unanimous choice for Rookie of the Year.
Miles struggled in both games against New York. She had five points, missing seven of her eight shots in 17 minutes, on Tuesday night. The Liberty's size and ability to protect the rim bothered the stellar first-year player.
Courtney Williams scored 18 points and Napheesa Collier added 14 to lead the Lynx.
See AP’s full WNBA coverage here
New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) reacts after scoring a three-point basket during the first half of Game 2 of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Lynx, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu, left, reacts with teammates Pauline Astier, center, and Jonquel Jones (35) after scoring a three-point basket during the first half of Game 2 of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Lynx, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve speaks with guard Olivia Miles (5) during the first half of Game 2 of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff series against the New York Liberty, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) looks to shoot over New York Liberty center Jonquel Jones (35) during the first half of Game 2 of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff series, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
Minnesota Lynx guard Kayla McBride (21) drives to the basket past New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) during the first half of Game 2 of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff series, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
